In late 2011, academics at the University of Kent began carrying out a 12-month study into the effects of lap dancing clubs on communities.

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There had been a lot of forums and papers published, she says, but the field had been handicapped by a tendency on the part of drug companies to approach the problem on a study-by-study basis, often not following up with communities after the work is done.

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Subsequent studies will study the impacts of business travel, as well as the effect of travel on private sector development, local communities and the US economy.

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In fact, Summers' study says that the boom in employment regulation has had several negative effects on business in local communities.

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On a more scholarly level, Mr. MacKerron is collecting the information to study the relationship between moods, communities and the places people spend time.

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